Tsuu T'ina Nation Indian Reserve No. 145

Tsuu T'ina Nation 145
Indian reserve
Seal
Location of Tsuu T'ina Nation relative to Calgary
Coordinates: 50°58′N 114°21′W / 50.967°N 114.350°W / 50.967; -114.350Coordinates: 50°58′N 114°21′W / 50.967°N 114.350°W / 50.967; -114.350
Country	Canada
Province	Alberta
Region	Calgary Region
Census division	6
Government[1]
• Chief	Roy Whitney
• Governing body	Tsuu T'Ina Nation Council
Area[2]
• Total	283.14 km2 (109.32 sq mi)
Elevation	1,160 m (3,810 ft)
Population (2011)[3]
• Total	2,052
• Density	7.2/km2 (19/sq mi)
Time zone	MST (UTC-7)
Highways	Highway 22X
Website	T'ina Nation

Tsuu T'ina Nation 145 is an Indian reserve in southern Alberta, Canada, created by Treaty 7. It is home to the Tsuu T'ina Nation.

The reserve is located in the Calgary Region, bordering the City of Calgary to the northeast, east and southeast, the Municipal District of Foothills No. 31 to the south and Rocky View County to the west and north. It is bound by 37 Street SW to the east, 146 Avenue SW to the south and Highway 22 and Wintergreen Road (Range Road 52) to the west, while Highway 8 is generally within 0.8 km (0.50 mi) of the reserve's northern boundary.^[4] The Hamlet of Bragg Creek is adjacent to the southwest corner of the reserve within Rocky View County across Highway 8.

Demographics

Tsuu T'ina children in traditional attire at a Stampede Parade

In the 2011 Census, Tsuu T'ina had a population of 1,777 living in 540 of its 565 total dwellings.^[5] Statistics Canada subsequently amended the 2011 census results to a population of 2,052 living in 630 of its 655 total dwellings.^[6] With a land area of 283.18 km² (109.34 sq mi), it had a population density of 7.2/km² (18.8/sq mi) in 2011.^[5][6]

• Population in 2011: 2,052
• Population in 2001: 1,982
• Population in 1996: 1,509
• 1996 to 2001 population change (%): 31.3
• Total private dwellings: 632
• Population density per square kilometre: 7.0
• Land area 283.14 km² (109.32 sq mi)^[2]

Tsuu T'ina-Municipal, Provincial, Federal relationships

Throughout his term as Calgary mayor, Naheed Nenshi has met frequently with Chief Roy Whitney, leader of the Tsuu T'ina Nation, and with former Chief Sandford Big Plume, to discuss matters of mutual assistance with growth.^[7] In 2011, the Nenshi and Big Plume negotiated tentative agreements to ensure the security of greater access safety services such as emergency medical services, police, and fire.^[8] Chief Whitney mentions that Nenshi's negotiations has warmed relationships and influenced the nation's decision to resume negotiations.^[9]

The city agreed to provide utilities such as water to support the expansion of the Grey Eagle Casino to serve as water works and possible extension throughout the Tsuu T'ina community in the future.^[10][11]

In 2013 Tsuu T'ina Police and Calgary Police commenced a professional relationship to cooperate in a joint effort to protect the bordering growing communities. They will share expertise and improve communications. Sgt. Steve Burton, the liaison, will help share his knowledge of criminal psychology as he learns about the Tsuu T'ina community.^[12]

Historical and contemporary developments

Glenmore Reservoir claims

The Tsuu T'ina nation and the federal government settled on inadequate compensation for the devastation caused by the flooding caused by the Glenmore reservoir in 1930. The federal government compensated the nation with $20M in 2013. The compensation was divided by half for the greater community and $5,500 for each member of the tribe.^[13]

Grey Eagle Casino

In 2007, the Tsuu T'ina constructed the Grey Eagle Casino outside city limits on land formerly occupied by the Harvey Barracks. The land was ceded back to the nation in 1996 when the lease expired.^[14] As of 2014 the Casino is exempt from province wide anti-smoking legislature and caters to smoking gamblers. As well, the facility provides clean air for non smoking gamblers via a $2M air filtration system.^[15] According to Gambling researcher Gary Smith, the Grey Eagle complex's proximity to nearby Mount Royal University might cause for concern as an addictive influence among susceptible students. Students who might be tempted to spend their leisure time there or enticed to eat there. However, representatives from Grey Eagle and Mount Royal Vice President Duane Anderson, observe that Casino has not had a significant influence since opening in 2007. The concern of the expanded Casino's influence upon Mount Royal University's student body remains. Mount Royal University's student wellness center provides information and assistance for students with addictive vices such as gambling.^[16][17]

The Grey Eagle complex began a major expansion, including construction of a hotel, in 2012.^[18] However, residents of the neighboring Lakeview community have raised concern for potential increases in traffic.

In May 2014, renovations to the Grey Eagle Casino was completed.

Harvey Barracks

Northern portions of Tsuu T'ina land were leased by the Department of National Defence and used to train Canadian Army personnel in live fire operations between 1901–1996. The Harvey Barracks camp, "Camp Harvey", was a small 380-acre parcel. The Tsuu T'ina nation resumed sovereignty of Harvey Barracks in 2006 after the Government of Canada conducted de-mining operations for 15 years to dispose of unexploded ordnance, such as bullets and shells. Altogether 12,000 acres of land were returned to the nation.^[19][20]

Unexploded Ordnance

In 1986, the Tsuu T'ina authorities under the leadership of Chief Roy Whitney took the initiative and founded an ordnance disposal company entitled the 'Wolf's Flat Ordnance Disposal Corp'. In the 1950s, 3 Tsuu T'ina citizens, a grandmother and her grandchildren where injured while berry picking. Her grandchild cursorily examined an explosive which accidentally detonated. The accident prompted the foundation of the service which was named after an honored elder.^[21] The company is expected to flourish as land leases for military bases across North America expire. The company has gained a worldwide reputation and serves countries which suffer from unexploded ordnance on their lands. After decades of extensive ordnance clearance by the company and the Government of Canada, occasionally live ordnance is still discovered. In 2013, a tank shell was uncovered by summer floods.^[22]

Black Bear Crossing

In 1996 Harvey Barracks and Currie Barracks (both part of the former CFB Calgary) were decommissioned and troops stationed at these facilities were reassigned to a base in Edmonton. The Black Bear Crossing area of Harvey Barracks became a neighbourhood within the nation when homeless band members took residence in the 180 vacant Canadian Army housing units en masse as the nation suffered a housing storage in 1998.^[23] Initially they were denied permission by both the Tsuu T'ina tribal authorities and by the Department of National Defence whose lease was still effective. There were concerns that asbestos had been used in the insulation of the housing units and there was still unexploded ordnance in the vicinity of the neighbourhood. The Department of National Defence later relinquished control of the area, stating that there was no danger of exposure to asbestos. The area grew into a neighbourhood housing 800 residents and was served by the Tsuu T'ina Police.^[23] However, in 2006, Health Canada declared the buildings unfit to live in, citing asbestos contamination, and the tribal council ordered the buildings evacuated. The housing units were demolished in 2009.

Ring road

Alberta Transportation has long pursued the acquisition of lands on the reserve to build a portion of the Calgary ring road, Stoney Trail. The Glenmore Reservoir, which is one of Calgary's sources of drinking water, is a major cause of traffic problems. The ring road would connect from approximately the Sarcee Trail/Glenmore Trail intersection to Alberta Highway 22X, alleviating traffic congestion in the south. The proposed route of this ring road would cut across the corner of the reserve bordering the reservoir.

A source of opposition to the proposed road comes from the environmental community which doesn't want to see major infrastructure built through land considered valuable to a fragile ecosystem. There have been discussions on and off regarding commencement of this project since the early 1990s.

The land swap necessary to build the ring road through the reserve was rejected in a referendum by the Nation in 2009, and the City of Calgary announced that alternative plans will put the ring road on municipal and provincial lands only. Negotiations to locate the road on the reserve resumed in 2011, and a new agreement was accepted by the majority of Nation members in a referendum held on October 24, 2013.

Ring road agreement

In October 2013, members of the Tsuu T'ina nation voted to accept the latest offer from the Province of Alberta in a referendum to exchange 428 acres of nation territory for an expansion 2,160 acres of crown land. The nation will be compensated with $66 million with relocation assistance and $275 million.^[24] Chief Roy Whitney signed the accord with Premier Alison Redford on November 27, 2013. Hazardous material utilities such as a high pressured gas line, and electronic Enmax substation will be rerouted along the road route.^[25] The decision was difficult as considerations that troubled the community such as relocation. According to tribe spokesperson Peter Manywounds, that the route will be built through prime agricultural and scenically aesthetic land.^[26] also states that the vague wording of previous attempted agreements contributed to reluctance in the past to agree on negotiations. Chief Roy Whitney anticipates that the road will bring development along the route that the nation members can benefit from especially for the 'Grey Eagle resort'. Residents of the Lake view neighbourhood are also relieved as they were troubled over a decade by the future prospect of their homes along 37 Street adjacent to the proposed detour being demolished.^[24]

Vandalism against Tsuu T'ina property

In 2012, vandals blocked a sewer pipe with concrete. Raw sewage was diverted into a wooded area nearby the Bow River, which is one of the watersheds supplying the City of Calgary. The repairs and environmental clean up were conducted with no enduring biohazards.^[27]

In 2013, the Tsuu T'ina flag was stolen from the mayor's residence of Redwood Meadows township. Mayor John Welsh discovered the destroyed flag on his lawn returning from a walk.^[28]

References

External links

• Tsuu T'ina Nation

	Rocky View County	Springbank	Glenmore Reservoir
	Bragg Creek		Calgary
		Tsuu T'ina Nation
	Rocky View County	Black Diamond	Fish Creek Provincial Park Spruce Meadows

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